School leaders and school board members across the country are struggling to explain the value of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to parents and community members. California’s transition to CCSS represents a key part of our state’s public education remodeling project, but given the scope of the change it is difficult for the larger community to really understand what it is, what it isn’t, and what it all means for our students.
Fortunately, there are already a number of communication tools that can be used by school leaders to communicate (a) why CCSS was developed, (b) how it was developed, (c) what it means for our students and our schools, and (d) what’s we can expect in the future.
The Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF) has both developed a number of its own tools and has gathered information about other ones that can help communicate CCSS effectively. These tools are designed to be used freely by school board members, administrators, teachers, and community members to explain the above issues to either large groups or one-on-one. Most of these tools are turnkey – meaning they can be used as is, but they would likely be most effective if they are customized for your specific community, audience, and issues. Some pieces are easily e-mailed and/or posted on social media, while others are designed for in-person presentations.
CDE Toolkit Resources
- Video – What’s Cooking With Common Core in California
- Video – Weaving “Skill Ropes”
- Talking Points
- FAQs
- Sample letters to families
- Sample editorials
- Embrace the Core
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Portal and Toolkit for news and resources around CCSS
The Official Sites
- California Department of Education
- National School Boards Association (Understanding the Common Core Standards)
This blog will continually post information and tools that create awareness about how the CCSS will positively impact teaching and learning as well as provide educators with access to high-quality CCSS resources.